The Blessed One was once living at Kosambi in a wood of
simsapa trees. He picked up a few leaves in his hand, and he asked the bhikkhus, How
do you conceive this, bhikkhus, which is more, the few leaves that I have picked up in my
hand or those on the trees in the wood?

The leaves that the Blessed One has picked up in his hand are
few, Lord; those in the wood are far more.

So too, bhikkhus, the things that I have known by direct
knowledge are more; the things that I have told you are only a few. Why have I not told
them? Because they bring no benefit, no advancement in the Holy Life, and because they do
not lead to dispassion, to fading, to ceasing, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to
enlightenment, to Nibbana. That is why I have not told them. And what have I told you?
This is suffering; this is the origin of suffering; this is the cessation of suffering;
this is the way leading to the cessation of suffering. That is what I have told you. Why
have I told it? Because it brings benefit, and advancement in the Holy Life, and because
it leads to dispassion, to fading, to ceasing, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to
enlightenment, to Nibbana. So bhikkhus, let your task be this: This is suffering; this is
the origin of suffering; this is the cessation of suffering; this is the way leading to
the cessation of suffering.